Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage

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Symptoms & Signs

Symptoms usually develop suddenly, without warning, often during activity. They vary, depending on the location of the bleed and the amount of brain tissue affected, and include the following:

• Change in alertness (level of consciousness)*
  • Apathetic, withdrawn
  • Sleepy, lethargic, somnolent, stuporous
  • Unconscious, comatose
  • Presence of cerebral amyloid, causing dementia before the bleed occurs (rare in children)
• Vomiting
  • Occurs frequently
  • Often described as occurring without nausea
  • Occurs more frequently in the morning
• Possible headache
  • May develop suddenly
  • May awaken the patient from sleep
  • Increased with change in position
  • Increased with bending, straining, coughing, etc.

*This is the first symptom in about 50% of people, including children

Symptoms of focal (localized) damage may develop:

• Decreased vision (loss of all or part of vision)
• Sensation changes
  • Decreased sensation
  • Numbness, tingling
  • Abnormal sensations
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty writing or reading
• Movement changes
  • Weakness of any body part
  • Difficulty moving any body part
  • Loss of fine motor skills/clumsiness
• Loss of coordination
• Loss of balance
• Seizure

• Stiff neck
• Aching of neck, shoulders
• Pain when bending neck

• Loss of muscle function or feeling
• Dysfunctional movement
• Facial paralysis
• Eyelid drooping